- The Baltic States strongly condemn the latest terrorist attacks
- Estonia calls for a pan-European approach to catch and destroy terrorists and their networks
- a pan-European approach will strengthen the EU and will also serve the interest of the Baltic States
The Baltic States have condemned the terrorist attacks in Brussels on 22 March and expressed their solidarity and support. This act of condemnation and solidity is not limited to only the Baltic States as many other nations around the world have sided with Belgium. What is important to notice however are the strong words that are being used by the three heads of governments of the three Baltic States.
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| The attacks in Brussels on 22 March came only four months after the Paris attacks |
President Thoomas Hendrik Ilves called on Europe to “catch and destroy” these terrorists in response to “the vile and abnormal crimes”. These are indeed strong words for a country that is so far being spared by Islamic terrorism. Indeed, the Baltic States find themselves in a region in Europe that houses few Muslims and thus have a very small change of harbouring a group of radicalized Muslims willing and capable to perform terrorist actions.
Up until now the Baltic States had different challenges to their national security, notably the threat that the Russian Federation poses. The Baltic States have so far also been outside the debate regarding terrorism, the domestic unlikelihood of terrorist attacks perpetrated by Islamic terrorism and a more conventional military threat facing them. Their strong and vocal condemnation of these attacks however tells us more about the interests of the Baltic States.
The Baltic States, and especially Estonia, called for a pan-European cooperation in order to stop terrorist and dismantle their networks. It seems no more than natural then to call for such an approach. Islamic terrorism in Europa is known to operate across the borders, a situation that is created by the free movement of persons in the Schengen zone. For more than a year the concept of the Schengen Zone has been questioned by Eurosceptic lawmakers. The closing of the outer borders of the European Union and the reinstitution of border controls by certain EU members are a trend that undermine the Schengen Zone, one of the most important achievements of the EU.
Over the past year the policy of the EU has been called in question and put under pressure by the refugee crises and is causing fracture lines between EU members. The prospect that the EU could break apart when put under too much pressure has already been brought up several times.
Thus, it is natural for the Baltic States to make a strong voice and call for a pan-European approach to the problem posed by Islamic terrorism. The terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November and in Brussels on 22 March can be seen as the moment for the EU to close the ranks and create a more efficient security system between its members, notably in the fields of sharing intelligence and coordinate police services. Such a pan-European approach will serve all members and increase the overall security within the European Union and in the end it will also serve the interest of the security challenges of the Baltic States.
